Spool



Patented'June 25h, 1940 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE" SPOOL David S. Starring, Greens Farms, and Arthur Slepian, Trumbull, Conn., assignors to Wheeler Insulated Wire Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 30, 1939, Serial No. 253,520

-I s claims. (cram- 123) This invention relates to spools, and, more particularly, to spools for receiving strand material such as wire or the like.

In view of the extremely large numbers of l spools used annually, it is necessary that they be made and assembled at a low cost. While it is essential that the spools be made as cheaply as possible, it is also essential especially where they are to be used for storing or holding wire,

l that they be rugged, rigid and durable in use because of the large amount of handling they receive. y l

It has been proposed to die-cast the flanges and ,barrel of the spools as a single unit. Howll ever, this required complicated dies which were very expensive and many disadvantages arose which made it impractical to so manufacture them.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a 20 sturdy and durable spool which can be readily die-cast and assembled with a minimum of operations andwith a minimum of cost and if made of metal, the material of damaged spools can be reclaimed to effect further economies.

The spool of the present invention is die-cast of aluminum or other moldable material in two complete sections, which are assembled and locked together by parts made integral therewith to form a rigid unit. One of the sections is 30 formed as an end flange with a central tube projecting therefrom. The other section is formed as an end flange with an integral' barrel extending therefrom which is adapted. to be concentric with the tube when assembled, the flange 35 being provided with an opening to receive the end of the tube. I j

v To prevent the two sections from rotating relative to one another when in assembled relation,v should the securing means become loose enough Y 40 to permit such shifting, interlocking means are formed on the two sections. In the preferred form of the invention, this comprises a key extending 'along the exterior of the vtube which is which ribs are totally within the barrel, when the -spool is assembled, andbrace the flangesv against the lateral pressure of the material on the spool.

The present invention employs a novel method of forming a spool in that the spool is die-cast c in two sections with all of the elements of the spool formed as integral elements.` After the two sections are formed, they are assembled and secured together without the use of-additional securing means by Yinterlocking two parts thereof, as by spinning over the end of the tube formed on one part into engagement with theange formed on theA other part. The present method'of construction simplifies the manufac- 15 tur of the spool greatly, and thus reduces the cos Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered Vin connection with the drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of one section of the spool.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe other section of the spool.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 1, looking from the right.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 2, looking from the Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 30 assembled spool.

According to the present invention, the spool is die-cast in two sections from a durable moldable material. While the present preferred material used is aluminum or analloy thereof, the spool can be made of other metals, alloys or even of a durable. insulating material, as required'. When aluminum or the like is used, spools that may become damaged can be reclaimed rather than discarded and a great saving effected. 'A 40 The spool being made intwo sections, the dies therefor'can be readily made to form' all ofthe parts of each section as an integral unit so that they cooperate `to form the completed spool.

This increases the rigidity-oflthe assembled spool 45 I and produces economies in tli'tagrnanufacture thereof since fewer parts must be handled.

As shown inthe drawing, one section comprises an end flange Il having a tube or tubular member l2 formed integrally therewith and ex- 60 tending from one face thereof, the tube and flange having an arbor-receiving bore I2a= ex-v tending therethrough. This face of the ange is also provided with a hub or bearing shoulder I3 radially spaced from the tubular .member and u ofa diameter to receive the end of the barrel which isadapted to bepositioned thereon with a forced t. A recess I is formed in the face of the flange adjacent the outer surface of the hub or shoulder so as to form a continuation thereof to receive the free end of the barrel and form a seat therefor when it is in position on the hub.

The other section. of the spool includes an end flange 2D and an integral sleeve forming a barrel 2l projecting from one face thereof. The barrel is of such a size that it.forms a receiving surface for the material to be wound on the spool. lIhe end flange 20 is provided with a central aperture 22 havingv a bearing surface 23 adapted to receive and support the end of the tube I 2 of the other section.

When the spool is formed in two sections, a more rigid spool will result for it will eliminate a joint existing between the flange and the tube connected therewith, and the other flange and the barrel connected therewith.

After the two sections have been die-cast they are assembled, as shown in Fig. 5, by telescoping one within the other with the free end of the tube I2 being received in the opening 22 in the opposite flange and free end of the barrel 2I being received, with aforce fit, by the shoulder I3 on the opposite flange, and the free end of the barrel extending into the recess I4.

' While the force fit of the sections will hold them together, it is desired to lock them in assembled relation to prevent them from separating under load. According to the present invention, the assembled sections are further secured together without the use of a separate securing means. This may be accomplished in many ways. For example, the sections may be threaded into one another, welded together, or, as is shown in the preferred form of the invention, the flange receiving the end of the tube can be countersunk as at 24 and the end of the tube spun over into engagement'wlth the flange to lock the two sections in assembled relation.

When the spool is loaded with wire, or the like material, the lateral pressure of the material on the flanges will cause them to flex and bend outwardly. To prevent this, means are provided for bracing the flanges. As is shown in Figs. 1

i and 3, the end flange II is provided with a plurallty of ribs 30 which project therefrom and extend along the tube I2. These ribs taper from a point slightly within the outer surface of the supporting shoulder outwardly along the tube to form in effect buttresses for 'carrying the strain applied to the flange by the material wound on the spool.

As is shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the end flange 20 is provided with a plurality of bracing ribs 3I which project therefrom and extend along the inner surface of the barrel. These ribs taper from the central opening 22 to the barrel and prevent the inner portions of the flanges from moving inwardly when pressure is applied to the outer surfaces thereof and will hold the spool and flanges in proper position to support the wire.

To prevent the two sections from turning relatively to one another should the locking means become slightly loose, the one section is provided with a key 33 extending along the outer surface of the tube for the full length, and. as shown y in Fig. 3, the key is slightly tapered and is inserted in a keyway 34. formed in the opening in aannam located in any one of the three when the parts are being assembled.

According to the novel method of making the spool Vof the present invention, the spool is readily die-cast preferably in two sections, one of which includes a flange and a projecting central tube with suitable shoulders and reinforcing ribs formed integrally therewith. The other section comprises a flange and integral barrel and suitable bracing ribs and openings therein to receive the tube. As shown in the drawing, the tube, barrel and reinforcing ribs taper slightly from the flange so that they can be readily formed by die-casting. 'I'he taper also aids in assembling merely telescoping the two sections so that the free end of the barrel is received by the shoulder with a forced fit and extends into the recess of the opposite head, and the central tube is received in the opening in the opposite head to be interlocked therewith to hold the two sections in assembled relation without the use of additional securing means.

By this simple method, the present invention enables a very rigid spool to be made much more quickly and at less expense than any prior construction.

While in the preferred form of the invention the spool has been illustrated as being formed of two parts, it is to be understood that the barrel may be made as a separate sleeve, and the 'two sections cast in the same manner so as to receive and support the same and form a rigid unit.

Variations and modications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions -oi the' improvements may be used without others.

' said pieces being die-cast 'to form a second end flange having a. rigid integral barrel portion exvthe sections to form a rigid construction by ein tending therefrom to form a continuous unbroken,

surface with said flange, said barrel being concentric with the tube and extending into the barrelreceiving means of the first-mentioned flange when the pieces are assembled so as to provide a continuing support for the material on the barrel, said second flange having an opening to receive the end of the tube; and means for interlocking parts of the two pieces together to hold the pieces in assembled relation.

2. A two-piece die-east spool comprising an end flange having an integral central tube extending from one face thereof and tapering'in thickness to the free end thereof, said flange and tube having an arbor-receiving bore therethrough, and another end flange having an integral barrel p0rtion tapering in thickness to the free end thereof extending therefrom lconcentric with the tube and engaging the first-mentioned flange, said second flange having an opening to receive the end of the tube; and means for securing the end of the tube to the second flange to lock the two pieces together.

3. A two-piece die-cast spool comprising an end flange having an integral central tube extending from one face thereof, said flange and tube having an arbor-receiving bore therethrough, and said tube having a smooth inner surface and a. projecting key extending along the outer surface thereof for the full length and another end flange having an vintegral barrel portion extending therefrom concentric with the tube and en- Cil gaging the first-mentioned flange, said second nan'ge having an. opening to receive the end of the tube, said opening having keyways to receive the key on the tube to prevent relative rotation between said parts; and means for securing the two pieces together. y

4. In a two-piece die-cast spool, one of said pieces being die-cast to form an end flange with an integral central tube extending from one face thereof and a barrel-receiving shoulder extending from the same face of the flange and concentric with the tube, said ange having an annular recess in the face thereof forming a continuation of the outer surface of the shoulder, and the other piece die-cast to form a second end ilange with an integral barrel portion extending therefrom, and concentric with the tube with the free end receiving said shoulder and seating in said recess, saidl second flange .having an opening to receive the end of the tube; and means for securing the end of the tube to the flange to lock the two pieces together. V

5. A two-piece .die-cast spool comprising an end flange having an integral central tube extending from one face thereof, said .fiange and' tube having an arbor-receiving bore therethrough,

and another end ange having an integral barrel portion extending therefrom concentric with the tube and engaging the first-mentioned flange, said second flange having an opening to'- receive the end ofthe tube; reinforcing ribs disposed between 'the tube and barrel and engaging the ange forreinforcing the flanges against exing under load; and means for securing the end of! the tubein the opening in the second flange.

6. A two-piece die-cast spool comprising anend flange having arr integral central tube extending from one face thereof, and a plurality of A reinforcing ribs projecting from the flange and extending along the exterior of the tube, and another end flange having an integral sleeve proiecting therefrom to form a barrel concentric flanges against iiexing under load; and means for.securlng the two sections together with the reinforcing ribs enclosed between the tube and DAVID S. STARRING. ARTHUR SLEPIAN. 

